Saturday, January 7, 2012

Before "Epiphany" became a buzzword for the by-products of self-absorption, it was a commemoration of the visit of the Magi to the Christ child. They were also known as the Wise Men. It is thought that there were three wise men. The population of Wise Men may have fluctuated over the centuries, but by now, in the 21st century, I think it's a safe bet there are less than three.
If there was an endangered species list for wise men, the Magi would be at the top.

They have been replaced by the shrill men, the greedy men, and the con men. These men are not an endangered species, nor are they wise. They are not Magi.

They are selfish pricks. And what makes their selfishness especially odious is the pomp and self-righteousness that seems to attend their every selfish act.

Friday January 6th was the Feast of the Epiphany.

It was celebrated in my little corner of the world by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia closing a number of schools. grade schools, high schools. Sorry kids. Sorry teachers.

Bye.

It was all nicely couched in what we have come to recognize as a sort of ecclesiastical double-talk, the ice coldness of the decision wrapped in a lot of pious talk.

Enough pious talk to make me want to puke.

The fact is that the Church is rich, and wants to stay rich, and closing the schools is a way to do this. If it breaks the hearts of a couple of thousand school kids and tanks a lot of dedicated teachers (most of whom unprotected by any collective bargaining, guaranteed pension or severance) so be it.

It's business. Never mind that a handful of paintings or statues or manuscripts from the Vatican could probably fund Catholic education through the rest of this millennium and into the next. You don't stay rich by giving it away.

So, I guess you could say that a lot of kids, their teachers, their parents, had an epiphany or sorts on Friday. They woke up believing in something, and they will go to bed with it gone.

Ken Williams

Hello, Friend

I've been an addiction counselor for over thirty years. I'm in long-term recovery from addiction. I am a husband and father; a member of several self help fellowships.

And I have something to say. Actually, quite a lot to say.

About addiction, about treatment, about the drug laws, about Recovery as both a personal journey and a social movement.

And about Interventions. I have been doing them for over twenty-five years, and there are things I see today, that while well-intentioned, range from ineffective to outright irresponsible and dangerous.

So, if you are interested in an ongoing discussion of the topics listed above as well as any other aspect of addiction and recovery, I hope that this will be a place to engage in that discussion.